Bagging apparatus



March 29, 1966 A. J. FRYDENLUND BAGGING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 14, 162

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ARTHUR J FRYDENLUND find/us (,i Star/\e A TTORNE Y5 March 29, 1966 A. J. FRYDENLUND 3,242,634

BAGGING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 14, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR. ARTHUR J. FRYDENLUND qndrus (i S tarlg e ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,242,634 BAGGING APPARATUS Arthur J. Frydenlund, 533 N. Margutte Road, Prairie du Chien, Wis. Filed Dec. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 244,687 Claims. (Cl. 53189) This invention relates to a bagging apparatus and more particularly to a novel apparatus for quickly and surely packaging objects in a bag made of plastic or the like.

In the art of bagging small articles, such as foam sponges, there has long been a need for a simple manually actuated apparatus which is nevertheless substantially automatic and quick in its operation. Previous bagging devices have been mechanically complicated, and have required numerous procedural steps to produce the finished package.

The present invention solves the aforementioned problems, and is based on a novel apparatus which can be operated at high speed and with a minimum of manual steps.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated by the inventor for carrying out the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a bagging apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention, and with the transfer table in its uppermost position to expose the air supply apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and with the transfer table down and showing a bag stack and the bag opener arms in open position;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the forward portion of the apparatus, and showing a sponge engaging the bag opening arms; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevation with parts in section of the bag elevating means.

As shown in the drawings, the apparatus of the invention comprises a flat base plate 1 of elongated dimension having a pair of spaced parallel L-shaped longitudinal channels 2 fixedly disposed thereon.

An air valve 3 is also secured to plate 1 between channels 2, with the valve having a longitudinal nozzle 4 extending parallel to the channels and with its opening 5 pointing generally in the direction of a transversely extending bag holder 6.

Valve 3 is normally in off position, but is operated to direct a stream of air through opening 5 upon actuation of a vertically movable trigger 7, in a manner to be described. Air is supplied to valve 3 through a conduit 8 which passes through an end portion of a vertical leg of one of the channels 2 and which connects to a suitable source of compressed air, shown schematically at 9.

In operation of the device, it is desirable to insert a plurality of articles, such as rectangular sponges 10, one by one into a plurality of bags 11. The bags may be of polyethylene or other suitable material and are preformed to have a main body portion closed at one end and having a lip 12 extending from the perforated lower open edge of the bag when the latter is in flattened closed position.

A stack of such bags 11 are held in position by bag holder 6. For this purpose, the bag holder comprises a bracket 13 fixedly mounted on base plate 1 slightly outwardly from the ends of channels 2. Brackets 13 include a pair of upstanding end arms 14 which provide open bearings for the receipt of the shaft 15 of a bag holding assembly.

To prevent shaft 15 from slipping axially out of the bearing support, an enlarged member 16 is secured to one end thereof so that it is disposed outwardly of the respective arm 14. The other end of the shaft is provided with means for rotating and locking the shaft in a desired 3,242,634 Patented Mar. 29, 1966 ice angular position. For this purpose, a knob 17 is mounted on the other end of shaft 15 and is biased by a spring 18 so that a pin 19 fixed to the knob will engage one of a plurality of circumferential holes 20 in a plate 20 on arm 14. The holes are selectively engaged by the pin upon rotation and release of the knob in a well known manner.

A bag clip is formed as part of the holding assembly and includes a lower clip plate 21 and an upper clip plate 22. Lower plate 21 extends between arms 14 and has a pair of end flanges 23 which are fixed to shaft 15 inside arms 14- for pivoting with the shaft.

Clip plate 21 extends generally in the same direction as nozzle 4 and has an inner end portion of reduced width.

Upper clip plate 22 is narrower than the front edge 24 of plate 21 and is disposed inwardly therefrom. The inner edge portion of plate 22 is mounted to pivot about transversely spaced pivot pins 25. In addition, springs 26 between the clip plates bias plate 22 upwardly to an unclamping position.

For clamping a stack of bags 11, the clevis 27 of a clamp lever 28 is pivotally secured to a yoke 29 disposed in a rear cut-out portion 30 of plate 22. A threaded bolt 31 extends downwardly from yoke 29 and through plate 21. The yoke and lever are biased downwardly by a bolt spring 32 confined between plate 22 and the bolt head. Adjustment of the spring biasing force may be accomplished by turning the bolt in the yoke.

The edges 33 of the spaced clevis members are disposed to bear against the forward top surface of clip plate 22 and form an offset cam for tightening plate 22 on the lips 12 of a stack of bags 11 disposed therebeneath. Spring 32 serves to equalize the pressure on the stack, regardless of the stack thickness.

When bags 11 are clamped, edge 24 will be disposed intermediate the bag ends and is parallel to the end edges. The bags actually lie or drape over the edge which acts as a support,

In the bagging operation, articles are manually moved toward the bag stack along a weight depressible transfer table comprising a top 34, two downwardly extending side members 35 and two downwardly extending end members 36. The transfer table is adapted to fit within and be coextensive with channels 2. Pivots 37 connecting the rear end portions of channels 2 and sides 35 permit the transfer table to be pivotally raised and lowered. When the table is raised to its uppermost position, valve 3 is exposed for servicing and adjustment. When the table is lowered, it is normally prevented from attaining a horizontal position by a plurality of springbiased pins 38 mounted beneath the free end portion of top 34. Pins 38 normally extend below sides 35 and ends 36 so that they contact base plate 1 and hold the transfer table at a slight incline. In this position, the lower surface of top 34 is slightly above valve trigger 7. When a slight downward pressure is applied to the table, the spring force on pins 38 is overcome so that the table lowers and trigger 7 is engaged to actuate valve 3. Trigger 7 is shown as threadably adjustable vertically to assure actuation of valve 3 and so that the amount of air passing through nozzle 4 may be selectively set.

In accordance with the invention, table top 34 provides a channel along which a plurality of individual articles are moved in succession to the bagging area. For this purpose, a pair of transversely spaced longitudinal angle guides 39 are disposed on top 34 and extend slightly forward thereof. The horizontal leg of each guide is slotted to permit lateral adjustment and tightening to the top by means of a suitable bolt 40 or the like. The vertical legs of guides 39 provide a directing path along which the articles move on the transfer table.

In operating the device, the manual movement of articles down the channel creates the downward force which actuates valve 3. Air is directed from nozzle 4 through an opening 41 in front end 36 and against the slightly inclined horizontal lever 28 and plate 22 and passes through the yoke 29 to the flattened end of the uppermost bag ll.

It has been found that in order for the air stream to pass into the top bag and positively open it, it is necessary to produce an air turbulence. Yoke Z9 and the inclined surfaces of the clamp mechanism help to some extent in this regard. However, substantial turbulence is created by a downwardly extending lip 42 disposed in the upper portion of opening 41. Without this lip, it has been observed that there is insufiicient turbulence and the bag end will flutter.

With the top bag 11 partially opened by the air stream, the nearest article 16 in the guide channel is ready for bagging. As the article approaches the end of top 34, it engages a pair of bag spreaders 43 disposed at the forward end of the transfer table.

Each spreader 43 comprises a horizontal arm 44 provided with a vertical pivot pin 45 disposed at the outer end thereof. Pin 45 is mounted to rotate in an enlarged bearing 46 secured to the overhanging forward end portion of the respective guide 39. The inner end of arm 44 supports a generally L-shaped member comprising a horizontally extending lower bag opening finger 47 having on its rearward end a vertical adjustment plate 48. A second finger 49 is disposed parallel to and above finger 47 and is mounted for vertical adjustment in a slot 50 in plate 48 by means of a set screw 51 or the like.

Each upper finger 49 is generally channel shaped, and has a horizontal leg 52 extending toward the longitudinal axis of the apparatus from the upper edge of the vertical leg. In addition, lower fingers 47 extend beyond upper fingers 49, with the vertical end edges of all the fingers being tapered upwardly and inwardly to provide a bag entering projection 53 at the lower edge thereof. In addition, each leg 52 terminates at the inner end of the taper to prevent the upper finger from catching on the bag edge.

As shown in FIG. 4, bag Spreaders 43 are normally positioned with their fingers 47 and 49 at a substantial angle to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus. For this purpose, each spreader is biased to a retracted position by an arcuate spring 54 extending between the lower face of arm 44 and the circumferential surface of bearing 46. Retraction of spreaders 43 is limited by the cut back end portions 55 f the vertical legs of guide 39, which are engaged by the spreader fingers.

In the retracted position, fingers 47 and 49 extend into the path of the oncoming articles 16. As an article continues its travel toward the bag stack, it engages the fingers and forces the bag Spreaders to pivot over the transfer table and into an open position wherein the fingers are longitudinally disposed, as shown in FIG. 2. As the finger pairs open, each lower finger 47 enters the central portion of the uppermost bag 11 of the stack, which has already been opened by the air from nozzle 4. Further arcuate movement of the spreaders brings upper fingers 49 into the bag until all the fingers extend longitudinally so that the open bag end is substantially rectangular, thus permitting sliding movement of an article along the inner surfaces of the fingers and into the bag. Legs 52 are disposed beneath and stretch the top of the opened bag, and form a ridge beneath which the article slides. Catching of the article on the bag is thereby prevented.

Once an article is in the uppermost bag and beyond the spreaders 43, the latter will retract out of the bag and release of manual pressure will stop the air flow. The filled bag may then be torn off at the lip perforations in readiness for filling the next bag in the stack.

As the bags are filled and the stack depleted, the topmost bag in the lowering stack will eventually be at a position substantially beneath the level of the transfer table. In order to maintain the air jet angle and the spreaders in the proper position for fool-proof bag opening, the bag support assembly may be then pivoted about shaft 15 by using knob 17 so that edge 24 of clip plate 22 is raised. This brings the bag openings into virtual alignment with the transfer table top.

When the stack of bags is exhausted, the lips 12 are released by lever 28 and discarded, and a new bag stack inserted in the clip.

The bagging deviceof the invention provides a simple, swift means for packaging articles, particularly rectangular objects such as sponges 10. Lateral adjustment of guides 39 also automatically adjusts the spacing of the spreader fingers for accommodating articles of various dimensions.

The air stream, which is in turbulence due to the obstructions disposed for impingement thereon by the air stream, provides a sure partial preopening of the bag to thereby permit the subsequent entry of the relatively large spreader members.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

I claim:

1. A bagging apparatus comprising:

(a) v a vertically movable elongated table adapted for movement of articles thereon,

(b) mechanism for holding a stack of bags so that the open ends of the bags are facing one end of said table,

(c) guide means for channeling moving articles longitudinally along said table toward said stack holding mechanism,

(d) jet means to intermittently provide a stream of compressed air toward the stack and with said jet means being operable to partially open the top bag of a stack as an article is moved along said table,

(e) means responsive to a downward force on and resultant downward movement of the said table to actuate said jet means, and

(f) bag spreader means disposed between said table and said stack holding mechanism and adapted to enter the partially opened top bag upon engagement of the spreader means by an article being channeled along said table by said guide means.

2. A bagging apparatus comprising:

(a) an elongated table having a top and having a first .and second position and adapted for movement of articles along said top, one of said positions being generally horizontal and the other of said positions being generally inclined,

(b) mechanism for holding a stack of bags in fixed position so that the open ends of the bags are facing one end of said table,

(c) guide means for channeling moving articles longitudinally along said table toward said stack holding mechanism,

(d) an air directing nozzle disposed beneath said table and facing said stack holding mechanism for opening the top bag in a stack,

(e) means to selectively supply a stream of compressed air .to said nozzle and including an actuating trigger spaced below the said top of said table when the table is in said first position so that air is not supplied to said nozzle, and

(f) mounting means for said table for permittlng movement thereof from said first position into said second position for engagement with said trigger to actuate said air supply means to supply air to the nozzle.

3. The bagging apparatus of claim 2:

,(a) in which said mounting means (f) comprises horizontal pivot means on the said table at the end thereof farthest from said stack holding mechanism (b),

(b) and spring means mounted beneath said table between said pivot means and said stack holding means and disposed to bias sa-id table toward the said first position.

4. A bagging apparatus comprising:

(a) an elongated table having a top and downwardly extending side and end walls',

(b) mechanism for holding a stack of bags so that the open ends of the bags face one end of the table, said mechanism comprising:

(1) clamp means for said bags,

(2) support means for said bags intermediate the bag ends and including an edge parallel to the open bag ends and over which the bag stack lies,

(3) and means to vertically adjust said edge so that as the stack is depleted the topmost bag may be maintained at substantially table top level,

(0) a pair of transversely spaced channel members extending longitudinally along said table top and providing a guide path for movement of articles along said top toward said stack holding mechanism,

((1) means to mount said channel members to said table top for adjustment transversely to accommodate articles of different sizes,

(e) pivot means at the end of said table farthest from said stack holding mechanism for permitting raising and lowering of said table,

(f) spring means mounted beneath said table between said pivot means and said stack holding means and disposed to bias said table to a normal raised position,

g) the end wall of said table adjacent said stack holding mechanism having an opening therein,

(h) a nozzle disposed beneath said table top and facing said opening and said stack holding mechanism,

(i) means for supplying air to said nozzle so that a stream of air is directed through said opening to the topmost bag in said stack to at least partially open same,

(j) trigger means normally spaced beneath said table top when the latter is in normal raised position and connected to energize said air supply means upon engagement of the trigger by the table top upon lowering thereof.

(k) means to provide a turbulence in the said air stream and comprising:

(1) a downwardly extending lip disposed in said opening, and

(2) an inclined surface forming part of said stack holding mechanism,

(l) and bag spreader means comprising:

(1) a pair of vertically spaced fingers mounted for horizontal pivotal movement on each side of said guide path adjacent said stack holding mechanism,

(2) spring means biasing said fingers away from the bag stack but permitting entry of the fingers into the partially opened topmost bag upon engagement of the fingers by a moving article,

(3) and a horizontal flange on the top finger of each said pair of fingers for preventing engagement of the upper edge portion of the topmost bag by an article.

5. A bagging apparatus comprising:

(a) an elongated table adapted for movement of articles therealong, said table having a top and at least one downwardly extending end wall,

(b) clamp means disposed for holding a stack of bags so that the open ends of the bags are facing said end wall,

(c) vertically adjustable transverse bag support means disposed on the side of said clamp means away from said end wall for draping said stack thereover,

(d) fixed guide means secured to the top of said table for channeling moving articles therealong,

(e) said end wall having a generally vertical opening therein,

(f) means disposed beneath said table for directing a horizontal stream of compressed air through said opening and toward said clamp means and generally toward the open end of the top bag of the stack to thereby open the said top bag,

(g) and means to produce a turbulence in said air stream to substantially prevent fluttering of the open end of the said top bag, and comprising:

(1) a lip extending downwardly into said opening,

(2) and an inclined clamp surface disposed between said opening and the stack.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/ 1960 Great Britain.

TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner.

A. E. FOURNIER. Assistant Examiner. 

1. A BAGGING APPARATUS COMPRISING: (A) A VERTICALLY MOVABLE ELONGATED TABLE ADAPTED FOR MOVEMENT OF ARTICLES THEREON, (B) MECHANISM FOR HOLDING A STACK OF BAGS SO THAT THE OPEN ENDS OF THE BAGS ARE FACING ONE END OF SAID TABLE, (C) GUIDE MEANS FOR CHANNELING MOVING ARTICLES LONGITUDINALLY AIR TOWARD THE STACK AND WITH SAID JET MECHANISM, (D) JET MEANS TO INTERMITTENTLY PROVIDE A STREAM OF COMPRESSED AIR TOWARD THE STACK AND WITH SAID JET MEANS BEING OPERABLE TO PARTIALLY OPEN THE TOP BAG OF A STACK AS AN ARTICLE IS MOVED ALONG SAID TABLE, (E) MEANS RESPONSIVE TO A DOWNWARD FORCE ON AND RESULTANT DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE SAID TABLE TO ACTUATE SAID JET MEANS, AND (F) BAG SPREADER MEANS DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID TABLE 